ainsworth



Ma ch 7, 1939.

A, A. AINSWQRTH ALBUM Filed Feb. 17, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 1 GENEMI. PEMMIKIlllllllll m m RW m w m VA W A 5 Y N R Q T T A March 7, 1939. A. A1AINSWORTH 2,149,488

ALBUM Filed Feb. 17, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS PatentedMar. 7 i939 15 Claims.

This invention relates to picture albums or other similar record books,filing folders, display cards; easels, and the like, and to a novelenvelope which may be employed in progressively adding to the recordcontained in such books, etc.

The invention is not limited in utility to the ordinary picture albumbut may be used in com-- In accordance with one feature of the presentinvention provision is made of an envelope having a gummed flap'dividedfrom the envelope body by a fold line, and of a series of tabs punchedfrom the body 01 the flap and having their bases preferably but notnecessarily coincident with the fold line so that the tabs may be foldedout of the plane of the envelope body independently of the remainingportion of the In utilizing such an envelope in a photograph album orother book or folder or when mounted upon any comparatively stiffbacking such as an easel or the like; a photograph may be firs placedover the main body of-the gummed flap but beneath the tabs, andadhesively united to the tabs by the adhesive which is present on .thetabs. The free margin er the flap is pasted in the album, book, folder,or easel, the body of the, envelope extending downward from the flapwhich has been attached. The independent hinge formed by the tabs andconnected ,to the picture may be folded downso that the i pictureoverlies theenvelope. The envelope is i s-"used as a receptacle orrepository for the negative Jirom which the picture has been made, andthe face of the envelope may have identifying or descriptive datawritten upon it. The envelope body is desirably provided with a printedform on its exposed face for receiving such descriptive data as iscustomarily desired.

40 book or ,folder or upon any comparatively stifi backing comprisesanattaching flap which is fixed in position, an envelope body hingedly connected to the flap along a fold line, and a photograph independentlyhinged to the flap and desirably adapted to be turned about the samefold line as the envelope body. Since the emvelope and the-photographcanbe turned up independently or together, it is apparent that the 5photograph may be turned up to expose the en- Each photograph andenvelope attached in the velope or that both the photograph and theenvelope may be turned up to expose an underlying photograph. Thesuccessive photograph and envelope units may, therefore, be arranged inoverlapping or stepped relation in the book, 5

folder or upon any comparatively stifl backing, and they are desirablyso arranged in order to provide a compact record.

There is no danger of the negative or any other material contained inthe envelope being lost from the envelope because the picture, in thenormal position, extends down across the insertion opening of theenvelope and covers and guards such opening.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. 1

in the drawings forming part of' this speclfl cation and disclosingcertain preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. i is a plan view-oi an open album showing two adjacent pagescompletely filled several of the photograph and envelope units on theright hand page being turned upward;

Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. 1 but difierent from Fig. 1 in* that thelowermost oi the envelopes shown turned up in Fig. 1 is shown in itsnormal or downturned position'in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an envelope of the kind employed in Figs. 1 and2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section of the envelope oi F s- I Fig-5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 showing an envelope like that of Fig. 4, but inwhich'the adhesive is applied to the back instead of the front of theattaching flap; I Fig; 6 is a fragmentary view generally similar to Fig.2, but showing the envelope of Fig. 5 employed in place of the envelopeof. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view generally similar to Fig.- 1", but showingthe envelope of Fig; 5 em loyed in place of the envelope of Fig. 4;

g. '8 is a view showing a modified form of album and envelope intendedto be used when miniature is employed; 1

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of an envelope similar to the envelope ofFig. 4 but having a modified hinge and attaching flap construction;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a picture and envelope assembly inwhich the envelope flap is designed to provide hinges for a series ofphotographs arranged in stepped relation;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line ii-ii of Fig.10-looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the envelope.

and several pictures extended out at an. angle 55 i from the backingsheet for clearness tion, and a v Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of theassembly of Figs. 10 and 11 showing one of the pictures, turned upward.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 disclosure ismade of a folder or album i consisting of a front 2 and a back .3hingedly connected to one another. The flexible, intermediate portion 4connecting the front and back may have additional stifi sheets pasted orotherwise secured to it. The ordinaryloose leaf ring binder may beemployed if desired, but the sheets used are desirably of stiff paper orof cardboard capable of carrying a considerable number of the envelopes.and photographs.

On the front and back 2 and 3 of the folder shown in Fig. 1 a number ofphotograph and envelope units is attached. The envelope forming a partof one of these units is best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The envelopecomprises front and back body portions 5 and B which are folded intosuperposed relation in the usual way. The body portion 5 has sidefiaps'l (see Fig. 1) which are folded over against the outer face of thebody portion 6 and adhesively united to the latter. The details of theenvelope body construction are unimportant, however, and may be variedas desired, so long as an envelope having a body and a free flap isprovided. The body portion 6 is provided with an integral flap 8 whichextends above the bodyportion 5 and which is. divided from the bodyportion 6 by a fold line 9. The entire area of the outer or rear face ofthe flap 8 is coated with adhesive l0. Tabs H .are cut'from the flap 8.These tabs are shown as being in the form of isosceles trapezoids,although they may take various other shapes. Each of these tabs as shownis completely severed along the two sides and the shorter base. Thelonger base of each tab desirably coincides with the fold line 9 and i spreferabiy cut through along a portion of its length to provide a slitl2 extending part way across the longer base. The slit l2, however, isspaced inward substantially from the extremities of the longer base ofthe tab. The slits serve to define the fold line of the tabs accuratelyand sharply. The face of" the body portion 5 is printed with lines forthe writing in of data'andwith suitable legends such as' Date, Location,General Remarks and Title, for facilitating the entry of desiredinformation concerning the photograph with which the envelope is to beassociated. The tabs H, two' or more; are. utilized for the attachmentto the envelope of a photograph it. Such attachment may conveniently beefiected with the envelope in a position like of illustrathat shown inFig. 3 by bending the tabs H upe ward out of the plane of the flap 8,moistening them, and thrusting the photograph into the angle between theflap and tabs until it is arrested by the junction of the flap and tabs.The moistened tabs are then pressed down against the back of thephotograph to unite the tabs firmly to the photograph. The photograph isin this way hingedly connected to the flap 8 and to the envelope body,each of the three elements l3, Ill and 5-6 being free to turn about thefold line 9 relative to the other two. The negative from which thephotograph has been' made is inserted in the envelope and the unit isattached in the album by moistening the adhesive on the flap 8 andpressing the flap in proper position in the album. The picture normallyextends downward from the attached flap and complete- 1y covers andconceals the envelope. When it I is desired to consult the data on theface of the envelope the picture may be turned up to expose theenvelope, and when the picture is in this position the negative may beextracted from the envelope if desired.

Another way of effecting the same combination of. envelope, picture andalbum which may be practised, if desired, is to attach the envelope oraseries of envelopes in the album before attaching the pictures. Careshould be taken in such case not to moisten the gum on the tabs,

so as to leave the tabs free to be turned upward and to have thepictures attached to them. The negatives can, of course, be inserted inthe envelopes after the assembly in the album is complete if desired.

The envelopes can be associated with the album sheets with sufiicientspace between them to enable the picturesto stand entirely clear of oneanother so that all-the pictures on a sheet are fully exposed to view. Amore compact arrangement, and one which is regarded as preferable formost purposes, is that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the gummedflaps stand substantially edge to edge and each photograph covers allbut the lower margin of the next photograph beneath it. This enables avery considerable number of the photograph and envelope units to beattached upon a single sheet of the album.

The envelope of Fig. 5 is very similar. to that of Fig. 4, and maydifl'er only in the fact that the adhesive Illa. is applied upon theopposite face of the flap 8a. from that upon which the adhesive I isapplied to the flap 8. The side flaps may be provided on either bodyportion of the envelope, but as shown'the arrangement is the same asthat of Figs. 1 to 4. Although the envelope is constructed in exactlythe same way as the envelope of Fig. ,4, the body portion a now becomesthe back of the envelope and the body portion 6a becomes the front, sothat the printed form for facilitating the entry of data is printed uponthe face of the body portion 6a. An album la is illustrated in Figs.-6and 7 as having envelopes oi the type shown in Fig. 5 attached in it. Asbefore, the flaps to. are attached to the album sheet, and thetabs Hafolded on line We are utilized as hinges for the attachment ofphotographs. The only difference resulting from the modification of theenvelope from the form of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5 is that the insertionopening is now at the back ofthe nevelope instead of at the front of it.This simply requires that the envelope be turnedup to the positionillustrated in Fig. 7 in order to expose the insertion opening andpermit a negative of the photograph to be inserted or withdrawn.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 the album and the envelopestructure have been modified in order to provide for keeping miniaturefilm in a small envelope which substantially fits the .film. A sheet 2bof the album has attached-to it a sheet of flexible fabric 65. The

fabric It is adhesively united to the sheet 21) in therein andtheinvention embodied in other each zone It. Each attaching tab istriangular in form. It may be a hollow triangle since the apei: of onetab may extend into the body of the next tab above it. The statementthat the entire zone I6 is kept dry and unadhered is not quiteaccurate,'since the small areas lying ou side the hinge triangles butwithin the zone are desirably,

though not necessarily, pasted down. For attaching a tier of pictures awidth of the sheet comprising three of the zones i6 is utilized. Thepicture has its upper rear margin adhesively I united to a pair ofcorrespondingly located hinges i8 lying in the two outer zones of theset of three. A small envelope H has its back 6b adhesively united tothe corresponding hinge of the intervening hinge zone. The envelope ismay be exactly like the envelope of Fig. 4 with the exception that it isa smaller envelope and thatupward while leaving the envelope turneddownward.

The envelope of Fig. 9 is generally similar to the envelope of Fig. 2.In this instance, however, the body of the envelope is provided beyondthe insertion opening with hinges and with tabs 2% out from within thehinges. This envelope is designed to be used by pasting the tabs 2b aswell as the main part of the flap 2G to the support or backing sheet,such as a sheet of an album, and by pasting the hinges 25 to the back ofthe photograph. The hinges and tabs which are folded on fold line 23 andthe iiap 2d are all gummed on the same side, but this may be eitherthe-side toward the insertion opening or the side away from theinsertion opening as desired.

In the form. of the invention shown in Figs. W to 12 disclosure is madeoi an envelope 3t having a flap 38 designed to be pasted upon asupporting sheet 32 and formed to provide a plurality of sets of hingesso that several photographs d3, 3%, 3t can' be mounted in steppedrelation uponthe flap of a single envelope. The flap may, of course, beof any length desired and may extend through the entire height of thesupporting sheet so that only one envelope 3b is provided on a sheet forholding the film for all of the pictures on that sheet. The hinges 35are formed from the flap portion of the envelope by angular cuts,

"the vertex: of each hinge extending into the body of the hingenextabove it. The hinges are arranged in vertical zones, and a set ofhinges for mounting a photograph consist of one hinge of each zone, thehinges of the set being all disposed in horizontal alignment. This form.of the invention is particularlydesirable where film is used which is sosmall that the film frames cannot be conveniently handled as individualunits. In this form of the inventioneither face of the combined hingeand flap structure may be selected for coating with adhesive.

While I have illustrated'and described in detail certain preferred formsof my invention, it

is to be understood that changes may be made structures. I do not,therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructionsillustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever formits principle may be utilized.

In the appended claims the terms "album and photograph are used broadlyand illustratively rather than literally, the-former to comprehend anycomparatively stiff backing sheet or. sheets whether in folder or bookform or otherwise, and the latter to comprehend any cards, slips orother units which might desirably be hingedlymounted upon a support.

I claim: Q Y An envelope adapted for use in photograph albums,comprising a body having an insertion opening and including front andback portions, 8. gummed attaching flap integralwith one of said bodyportions and divided from the body portion by a fold line, and gummedfoldable tabs formed from portions of said flap to constitute pictureattaching hinges.

2. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap is gummed on itsface which is opposite to or remote from the insertion opening.

3. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap is gummed on itsface which is toward or adjacent to the insertion opening.

4- An envelope as setforth in claim 1 wherein the tabs are divided fromthe envelope body along the same fold line which divides the flap fromthe envelope body. 5. An envelope adapted for use in a photograph albumcomprising a body having an insertion opening and including front andback portions and a .gummed extension on one of the body portionsadjacent the position of attachment for hingedly attaching the envelopein an album, and other gummed extensions on the 'same body portion forhingedly connecting a photograph to the envelope body.

'6. A photograph and envelope unit adapted for attachment in an album oruponany comparatively stiff backing, comprising an envelope body, agurnmed attaching flap divided from the body by a fold line, gummedphotograph hinges integral with the envelope and foldable independentlyof the body and the flap, and a photograph attached to said hinges.

'7. A photograph and envelope unit adapted for attachment in an album orany comparatively stifi backing, comprising an envelope body composed offront and back portions which jointly define an enclosure receivingcompartment entered through an insertion opening, an attaching flapintegral with one of said bodyportions and divided from such bodyportion by a fold line, hinge tabs also integral with the envelope bodyand foldable independently of the body and the flap, and a photographattached to said. hinge tabs in a position to cover and guard theinsertion opening. v

8. A photograph and envelope unit adapted for attachment in an album orupon any compara tively stiff backing, comprising an envelope bodycomposed of front and back portions for jointly defining an enclosurereceiving compartment entered through an insertion opening, an attachingflap integral with the front body portion and adapted to be pasted in analbum to locate the insertion opening toward the album sheet to whichthe flap is attached and just below the attached flap, photograph hingesalso'integral with the front body portion and foldable relative to saidflap and body portion, and a photograph attached to said hinges inposition to overlie the envelope.

9. A photograph album comprising a supporting sheet and a series ofattached envelopes, each envelope including an attaching flap whereby itis hingedly attached to the supporting sheet, and photograph hinges forindependently hingedly connecting a photograph-to the envelope.

10. -A photograph album comprising a supporting sheet, an envelopehaving a body portion and a foldable gummed extension divided from thebody portion by a fold line. a photograph adhesively united with theextension, and means adhesively connected to the supporting sheet forhingedly connecting the photograph and the envelope body to thesupporting sheet, each with capacity to be individually swung away fromthe supporting sheet.

.11. A photograph album comprising a supporting sheet, verticallyarranged series of hinges attached to the sheet, said hinges beingdisposed in horizontally aligned sets, a photograph attached directly tothe two outer hinges of a set, and an envelope having a body portionattached to an intermediate hinge of the set, and a foldable flapattached to the back of the photograph, said en-' velope constituting aconnection between the in-- in transverse alignment with the otherhinges of the set and a photograph marginally attached to said otherhinges and to the envelope flap.

13. An envelope adapted for use in an album comprising a body having aninsertion opening and including front and back portions, a gummed flapintegral with a body portion and divided therefrom by a fold line, and aplurality of sets of hinges formed from the material of the flap forhiugedly mounting photographs in stepped relation.

' 14. A photograph album comprising a supporting sheet, a verticallyarranged series of hinges attached to 'the sheet, said hinges beingdisposed in horizontally aligned sets, photographs attached each' to ahorizontally aligned set of hinges with the capacity to be individuallyswung away from the supporting sheet, and envelopes for containingphotographic negatives, interspersed between certain of the photographs,and also having the capacity t be individually swung away from thesupporting sheet.

15. A photograph album comprising a supporting sheet, an envelope havingits body hingedly connected to the sheet, and means for attachingphotographs or like articles in stepped overlapping relation to thesupporting sheet for hinging movement relative to the sheet andindependently of the envelope body, but in such relation that theenvelope body is covered and concealed by one or more of the photographsbut may be uncovered for access by the hinging movement of the adjacentphotograph away from the sheet.

ALBERT A. AINSWOR'I'H.

